Chidambaram talks to J&K PCC leadership

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today began his two-day visit to Jammu region with a closed-door meeting with top state Congress leadership to discuss the the "political aspirations" of three regions of the state.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today began his two-day visit to Jammu region with a closed-door meeting with top state Congress leadership to discuss the the "political aspirations" of three regions of the state.

The meeting assumes importance in view of the parallel rallies organised by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress (JKPCC) and another by dissident Congress leadership, which was addressed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on the death anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi on 30 January.

Chidambaram is understood to have heard the PCC point of point of view about governance and how the party can be strengthened in the state where it is ruling in alliance with National Conference.

A delegation of 30 to 40 local Congress leaders, including ministers, MLAs, MLCs and senior office bearers led by Soz, held the meeting with Chidambaram. JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz said the Centre-appointed interlocutors on Kashmir have submitted their reports to the Centre on their J&K visits and Chidambaram discussed the issues with various political parties besides reviewing the security situation of Jammu Kashmir.

"Chidambaram, who is coming here on my invitation, is meeting our leaders on political aspects of J&K as the interlocutors have submitted their reports", Soz told reporters earlier. He said the Home Minister "will know the political aspect of Kashmir issue. If there is a political change in J&K, the Home Minister wants to know the voices, wishes and aspirations on the political front of Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu regions from leaders here", Soz said.

The Home Minister will meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over breakfast tommorrow and will hold a security review meeting at Abdullah's residence. He will also have a dinner meeting with Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhawan where they are expected to discuss the security situation, counter terrorism operation,infiltration, and governance in the state.

The Home Minister will fly to Kishtwar where he will review the security situation of five districts of Jammu region at a high level meeting. This is for the first time a Union Minister is visiting Kishtwar after the then Home Minister L K Advani had gone to the district in 1998.